Managing Your Time Between Work & Home

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When you first begin your business, everything is fine and dandy. It's like
bringing home the new baby from the hospital. Everyone visits to see the new
baby. Everyone thinks the baby is cute and wants to hold it. Everyone "oohs"
and "awes." After a few months though, the newness wears off. Now it's time
to get down to raising this new baby and preparing him or her to be success-
ful for their role in life.

A new business suffers about the same type of beginning. You talk the
decision over with your family and involve them in hearing your initial
business plans. Everyone gets excited and tells you to "go for it." Everyone
agrees to help out and the whole house is buzzing about with visions of big
bank deposits dancing in their heads. After a few months though, the newness
wears off. Since you probably haven't made any money, family members may grow
tired and discouraged. They begin degrading your motives for opening the
business in the first place. They may even embarrass you and make you feel
like a total failure without even realizing it.

Eventually, if you stay with the business and exclude the family, they will
begin feeling rejected. A spouse may be upset because you don't go to bed the
same time you used to. He or she may pressure you into spending more time
with them and the children. You love your family and don't want to hurt them
but you don't want to hurt your business either. You are torn between two
decisions, and sometimes this decision is extremely difficult to make.

What are you supposed to do? It's only common sense, if your spouse gets ill
and you have to take care of him or her, that this situation would demand
more attention than your business. But, most situations are not this severe.
Often times, family pressures only come from the fact that the family member
feels left out and rejected. Naturally, when you are building your business,
your time is occupied in this field _ much more than when you didn't have a
business. Your spouse may be used to falling asleep with you while watching
television. You can still do this! Just take a break and watch television
with your spouse until he or she falls asleep. In turn, he or she should have
the understanding that you will probably be working on your business for a
few hours while they are sleeping. Give a little!

If the children are used to you spending more time with them, try and involve
them in some aspect of your business. Take them to the post office with you
to pick up your mail. Talk with them about school or other things that
interest them while you're both in the car. Ask them to drop the mail in the
mailbox while you are cleaning out your post office box. Even a small amount
of responsibility in your business builds up a respect for your work and they
will give you more space when you need to take time away from them.

If your children are young _ take a nap when they are asleep and work longer
hours after they go to bed at night. If you work a full-time job, take some
lunches by yourself and study your business-related materials. You'd be
amazed how much research and new ideas you can come up with in 1 hour at
lunch undisturbed over a peanut-butter sandwich. Save money too! Carry a
mini-cassette recorder or pad of paper with you every place you go. Write
down ideas that come into your mind and review these ideas while eating

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supper or watching television. I'm sure you can find time to build your
business _ it just takes a little thought. It may not always be the amount
of time you want and need _ but you can squeeze some time in somewhere. Just
find out "what" method works the best for you!

There are a lot of excellent books on the market about managing your time
successfully. Find one and read it. Your family, friends and other human
relationships are very, very important to your mental attitude. Don't
alienate them completely. Just find ways you can enjoy the best of both
worlds and everyone will be happy _ including you and your business.